Skip to: Content
Skip to: Site Navigation
Skip to: Search
FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 27, 2009
| Subscribe to Newser's RSS feeds RSS | Follow Newser on Twitter Twitter


6

Cable Company Wages War on Monsters

Company takes on more monsters than Godzilla in fight to protect trademark

Share

(Newser) – High-end audio cable maker Monster Cable has been taking on every monster it can find in a battle to safeguard its trademark, the Wall Street Journal reports. The company has sued makers of monster-branded products from carpet cleaners to energy drinks, along with job-search site Monster.com, and even the makers of Monsters Inc. in a campaign critics say amounts to monstrous bullying.

The company, saying it is just trying to protect a famous trademark, denies accusations that it’s attempting to corner the market on the word monster. It has fought around 190 monster battles in the patent office and 30 in federal court, but has backed off a few times: One suit against Monster Mini Golf was dropped after it attracted a fearsome amount of bad publicity.

Monster Cable opposed Boston Red Sox trademark applications for merchandise featuring mascot Wally the Green Monster.
Monster Cable opposed Boston Red Sox trademark applications for merchandise featuring mascot Wally the Green Monster.   (AP Photo/Winslow Townson)
People dressed as monsters advertising toys ride the escalator at the Toy Fair in New York, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008.
People dressed as monsters advertising toys ride the escalator at the Toy Fair in New York, Sunday, Feb. 17, 2008.   (AP Photo/Seth Wenig)
« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow

If Monster Cable prevails, the Gila monster will become just another lizard. - Michael Meadors of tabbarone.com, a website that keeps tabs on trademark issues

We do not have a concern if a company is using the word 'monster' in a purely descriptive sense to describe actual monsters.
- David Tognotti, Monster Cable's general manager

« Prev« Prev | Next »Next » Slideshow
OFF THE GRID
11.24.09
Murdoch and Microsoft: The Mice Are Trying to Roar
11.23.09
Books Are Bad for You
6 comments
VIEWING:
 
NutsInNY
Apr 4, 09 9:40 AM CDT
This might confuse some folks: when Newser writes above that the company "has fought around 190 monster battles in the patent office", they are referring to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; this is a dispute over a trademark, not a patent. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Mad
Apr 4, 09 10:09 AM CDT
Monster Cable is wasting their time. For all their bluster and causing such ill will, I have never, ever heard of them nor seen their 'famous trademark'. Losers Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Robert_Dada
Apr 4, 09 10:09 AM CDT
Monster Cable says its trademark challenges are a matter of necessity. "If you don't defend your mark, and people use [it], it runs the risk of becoming generic and then you lose the mark," - I'm sorry but that's the price you pay when you choose a generic word in the first place as your company name. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0
IN RESPONSE:
Mr.C
Apr 4, 09 12:12 PM CDT
agreed. PS, I call dibs on the word Rage.
Vote up! Vote down!
0
Collusive
Apr 4, 09 10:17 AM CDT
I love capitalism's overgrowth. Reply
Vote up! Vote down!
0

View all 6 comments »

LEAVE A
COMMENT Comment Policy
Facebook ConnectPost this comment to Facebook?

After connecting you will have the option to post your comment on your Facebook profile.

 

Related Newser Stories

468 Stories

Fla. Jury: Philip Morris Must Pay Ex-Smoker $300M

Tobacco company found negligent in state's largest verdict

Nov 19, 09 9:21 PM CST
(AP) - A South Florida jury today ordered Philip Morris to pay $300 million to a former smoker, agreeing that the tobacco company's negligence was the cause of her emphysema. The award for Cindy Naugle, 61, is the largest to date among thousands of lawsuits filed in the state against tobacco companies.... More »

MORE ABOUT:
lawsuit • Altria • Philip Morris • verdict • punitive damages • emphysema • Cindy Naugle • smokers • compensatory damages

CELEB LAWSUITS


 Manager: I 
 Warned Nic 
 Not to Buy 
 That Castle... 

Broke Nicolas Cage countersued by business manager

Nov 19, 09 9:33 AM CST
(Newser) - The business manager Nicolas Cage is suing for fraud is suing the actor right back, claiming he warned Cage he would have to make $30 million a year to support his extravagant lifestyle. Samuel J. Levin’s suit also claims he cautioned the actor—who recently lost two New Orleans... More »

MORE ABOUT:
entertainment • bankruptcy • foreclosure • celebrity • lawsuit • spending • Nicolas Cage • business manager • Nicolas Cage broke • Nicolas cage foreclosure

JUDGE HANGS UP ON AT&T

 Verizon Ads 'Sneaky' But OK 

AT&T-bashing campaign can stay on air, judge says

Nov 18, 09 9:01 PM CST
(Newser) - A series of Verizon ads that rip AT&’s 3G network are “sneaky,” a judge ruled today, but aren’t misleading and can stay on the air. AT&T had tried to shut down the “There’s A Map For That” spots, but won’t get... More »

MORE ABOUT:
Verizon • lawsuit • cell phone industry • 3G wireless networks • AT&T • 3G network • There's A Map For That ads

468 Stories


Blog highlights Monster's 'bullying'
monstercablebully


Business 
TwitterFollow @NewserBusiness on Twitter

 
brands • lawsuit • Monster.com • trademark

from our news partners